Disney Shows

Just lock the tv with a plug lock. You might be able to tell him the TV broke for awhile, but you'd probably be better to limit his watching time and not allow him to watch shows that you find objectionable. I just got the entire Gilligan's Island seasons 1 through 4 on DVD and let my son watch one a day. It's silly, he loves it, and it's completely harmless. You can control a whole lot if you keep him from watching live tv (and there are no commercials!).

Glad to hear you are blocking the channel - and if he throws a fit about it, just tell him: "I don't like the way you are talking and acting after watching these shows. That is not how we behave in this family." End of story.

If you don't want him to watch it, don't let him. For me this is a no brainer, I know I'm the Mom, that some decisions will be met with a LOTof resistance. You have to be more stubborn than he is on some issues (easy for me because I'm pretty stubborn) but I guarantee you, he's not going to hate you for it, sure he'll be upset, but that's a life lesson in itself. At that age my daughter was watching little Einstiens and Between the Lions. She's not into TV so it's been easy but that was pretty much it.

Just wanted to add.... I realized you said he is your stepson. I think even if he is spending time in two households he will understand what is expected in both. On the positive, is there a game you can play with him? Certain interest he has, sports, cars, etc. Maybe you can focus on something he does like rather than the fact he's not getting to watch TV.

Are you concerned because he's watching a show that you think is too old for him or are you concerned because he's watching a "girl" show? If it's the former I agree with the other posts and suggest being more strict about what channels he's allowed to watch. At 5 I actually have to say taht I think he's probably getting a little past the preschool shows like Handy Manny and is about the age where they start to watch those Disney Shows (maybe not quite, but close) but you have to decide what you want or don't want. TV is a hard issue. I think most kids would sit in front of it all day! YOu have to find a system that works for you and you are right to not want him to watch endless hours of it. I think we've all had kids crying over the TV and it isn't much fun, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do!

If you think what he's watching is too girly, well then I have other thoughts on that.

um, turn the tv off?

I'm sorry, that was kind of snarky, but there's really no reason he has to be watching them in your house if you dont like it. I've never watched Hannah Montana, so I'm not sure what's inappropriate about it, but frequently if I find my daughter being to rude or bossy about the tv, we just turn it off and have tv free night or day or whatever.

if he is 5 you can pick what he is allowed to watch. Period. He is too young to watch a lot of the disney shows, but you can let him watch handy mandy, mickey mouse clubhouse, etc. just turn the channel. You're the mom. There is nothing wrong with kids crying when they don't get their way.

I've had to ban Hannah Montana and iCarly from our house. They aren't age-appropriate IMHO. Your stepson should be watching stuff like Imagination Movers, Handy Manny, etc. If you don't want him to watch it, do like we did and block the show/channel. Good luck!

Don't target Disney. At 5, he should be watching less than 10 hours a week, total, of t.v. That's less that one hour a day. I would say allow him half an hour a day. Then find other things for him to do with his time, like going outside, playing with playdough and toys and other things, drawing, reading/looking at books, etc.

And if you really have issue with the shows, find something else to replace it with. My boys liked Jonny Test and Ben 10 (cartoon network, I think), and the Hotwheels show looks pretty good, too. And check out PBS, they usually have something good for his age. But don't limit him to "boy" shows (I can see your issue with Hannah Montana - it's a bit old for him - but there's nothing wrong with a boy enjoying the princess movies once in a while).

Whose the adult? Turn off the tv, no more Hannah.

You didn't say, but, if he spends time in another home it may be impossible to get him to stop watching it when he's not in your home. I'm confused-are you upset cuz it's not masculine enough and its only for girls or cuz he's picking up language and attitudes that are not age appropriate?
Just explain to him Over and Over that what kids on TV say and do are not things he can say and do, give examples like Superman can fly, he cannot, a cartoon character might jump off a cliff but he cannot. TV is not real and the kids on Hannah Montanna might look real but it's just TV.

I don't like most of the live shows from Disney ( I scares me to think that dating, preteens and teens are so appealing to elementary kids) so I'm thankful my daughter has always preferred cartoons. If he is watching at someone else's house there isn't much you can do except try finding new shows that are more age appropriate and more exciting. At 5 we loved Martha Speaks on PBS, not to mention Phineas and Ferb, and Scooby Doo are current favorites. At 5 the TV should be limited anyways so have him pick a show but you give a choice of what he can watch. If you have the ability record several different shows and then you don't run the risk of Hanna coming on after something to upset him. Out of site out of mind. Ultimately you can tell him I don't think this is age appropriate so lets find something else or we cant watch TV. Good luck.

I too got tired of the endless battle with the television and finally last spring gave up and turned the cable off.. NO MORE CABLE at all. I watch my few shows online and the rest just doesn't need to be watched. Now they play outside more, play lego or other non-electronic games. They do still have their gameboy's and ipods but even that time has been limited. I just think there are way better things to do than sit in front of a tv all day. Now I don't have the struggle to shut the tv off to get the chores done or even to come to the table for supper. And the biggest perk is that it saves almost $100 a month, I am already paying for internet and then I can watch my shows when I am ready and not when the tv dictates I watch them. (I guess I could have recorded them but too much work)
Good luck, just block the channel or severely limit his tv watching time. You will be met with resistance but it is short lived. I asked my middle son the other day if he missed tv and he said no.

I think all the disney "tween" shows are garbage for boys or girls. That being said you seem to be forgetting on key element...YOU are in charge. Turn off the TV and let him cry, so what? You can dictate what he watches. He is 5. Try PBS or noggin, and sprout.

yes, my 11 yr old son still watches The Suite life of zack and cody, hannah montana and Icarly. However, his tv watching time is restricted to after 5 pm and for a few hours on Sat or Sun am since he wakes up way early. Screen time includes tv, computer and video games, and I taught my kids about limits by setting a 30 minute timer when they were 5 or 6 and now they obey the limits very well ( I also have a 15 yr old daughter).

My son loved music and dancing so he loved all the shows, even the girl ones. When he got teased in school for liking High School Musical, we told him just because he liked something didn't mean he had to declare it to everyone.
Now he just keeps it to himself and watches it at home. But the last time he got made fun of for liking musical shows/movies, I told him to remind the boys calling him names, John Travolta makes a very good living doing it and in fact, even dressed like a woman in Hairspray....he's married with children and could buy two of the houses around here. (Or more).
Point being children will like what they like. For a variety of reasons. If it really bothers you, he will start hiding his likes and dislikes when he gets older. Instead try redirecting him to some musical shows geared toward his age group. Most parents hate Barney and the Wiggles but they are good for small children and they do have that musical outlet and humor outlet if that is what is drawing him in.
Some kids like sports. Some kids like art. Some like theatre/music. Individuality is what makes the world go around so embrace it in your son and find ways to nurture his likes and talents. Mine is even enrolled in a drama class for the second time around. First time he made lead with a solo song and this time he gets the pleasure of doing three parts in one program..so he enjoys it and he is talented in it. He tried basketball and will probably do it again but he didn't have near as much fun and to be honest, it wasn't his cup of tea like drama has turned out to be.

My son is almost 7, and he's been watching those disney shows for a couple of years. Most of the time he'll choose to watch one of those shows over a cartoon when both are on at the time he gets to watch tv.

At first I thought it was odd too - more because it seemed a tween show with real people seemed too "old" for him. But, he really seems to enjoy them, and compared to some of the other shows out there I don't think they're too bad. Right now his favorites are iCarly and Victorious - two shows I would think are aimed at girls, but he likes to watch the interaction between all the characters and talks about the shows almost like the kids in them are his friends from school.

I just make sure that either myself or his dad watch them with him so we can monitor if the subject is inappropriate, and we limit how much tv he gets to watch overall, but other than that I figure it's his choice and if he enjoys the show then I'm ok with him watching it even if I think I'd pick something different.

There have been a couple of shows I've vetoed after watching them with him, and he knows that if I say no then he either needs to watch something else or not watch tv at all.

How is it not normal for a boy to watch that kind of show? My boys are 12 and watch it. They have since it came on the air. My daughter 10 watches Ben 10 is that not normal either? I really dont see the problem with a boy or girl watching anything for me its about age and maturity on what mine can and can not watch.

You are the parent. You establish the rules. You say no or in the alternative, you regulate the time, place, and manner. In other words, you can turn off or control time and shows for which the the TV/VCR is used. Your five-year-old stepson is not the parent and does not have legal or moral authority to make many of the choices in his life, including regulation of media he is allowed to watch.

If you do decide to exercise your parental prerogative by limiting the time he spends watching Disney, provide an interesting, alternate activity for him to do, saying, "Let's do this, instead." Preferably, have him learn about an area that interests him and helps him to develop skills.

He may not like this at first, but he might, if you challenge him with some fun and interesting alternate activity, might come to really like the change.

P.S. Don't worry about the tears. You are the parent.

Okay... I'm confused about this, a 5-year-old wanting to watch Disney shows - perfectly acceptable and normal. Hannah Montana is a bit out of his age range, but I agree with the other mamas that have said because it's a girl show doesn't mean he shouldn't be able to watch it.

It sounds like you're letting him watch way too much t.v.

And here's the kicker - You want a 5-YEAR-OLD to stop watching DISNEY for something MORE EDUCATIONAL!! Like what? I HOPE that you're meaning a show like Word World and not something like the Discovery Channel.

It's disappointing to me to think that you're blocking Disney from a child... but that's my opinion.